After owning a C2 small block with side exhausts for many fun years, I have moved into a stock C5 LS1. Looking to install a performance exhaust on the C5, I can't seem to find the sound that I became so fond of.

Why is there a difference of sound between these small blocks?

Is there any hope in finding a system that will resemble that sweet rumble of my C2.

Suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Mostly due to firing order and all aluminum block and heads vs all iron block and heads.

No not exactly but I have the Magnaflow system p/n 15713 on my Corvette for 6 years now. It is noticeably louder than stock with a much deeper tone and nice throaty rumble. Not exactly like my old small block Chevys but closer than most others imo. Really sounds great while shifting through the gears. With the Magnaflow system you do not get that motor boat sound that the stock exhaust and many of the other after market exhaust systems produce. I have had several different exhaust systems and the Magnaflow is my favorite.
Great looking large 4" polished tips with polished mufflers and polished pipes and a built in exhaust plate that keeps the tips perfectly aligned. Very nice quality and nice fitting exhaust.

If you like very loud, the B&B Bullets produce an nice deep tone and rumble but are much louder and produce significant resonance.

I have never heard GHL Bullets in person but from what I have read they are in between the Magnaflow 15713 and B&B Bullets.

 

The classic muscle car sound of the GHL Bullets has long been considered the quintessential C5 Corvette exhaust system. Only the highest quality mandrel bent 304 stainless steel is used to manufacture all of our exhaust systems. The Bullets feature quad 4" tips that make your exhaust look as good as it sounds. The Corvette Bullet exhaust utilizes GHL's innovative Thru-Flow design which allows your Corvette breath, yet produces no drone or cabin resonance, making it the perfect system for either a boulevard cruise or a weekend at the track.

 

I had exhaust cutouts on my cammed 98 Coupe and I can honestly say it was best sounding car at The Syracuse Nationals car show. The best part is with a switch of a button, the cutouts can be closed for those relaxing Sunday drives

 

There's plenty of reading you can do about this on the internet, and its something I've always been very interested in.

From what I've read, much of that "deep rumble" muscley tone that we think of from older muscle cars is from uneven exhaust pulses. The better flowing valves and aluminum engine parts have a different intonation, which generally is a cleaner sound, which sounds less "throaty" and more "refined", like you would hear out of a ferrari or lamborghini, for similar reasons.

A large reason is having true dual exhaust with a crossover (H-pipe or X-pipe). This evens out the exhaust pulses. This is why Camaros with LS1 engines sound more "muscley" than Corvettes, because they don't have true duals. Because the exhaust from either bank of the engine travel different distances, they are uneven and create interfearance between them, which creates that uneven "motorboat" sound and idle. It also creates an overall lower major frequency, and a more uneven frequency spectrum, as opposed to a refined engine with true duals with crossover, which has very even exhaust pulses with a more even and overall higher frequency spectrum.

Also, having the exhaust tips next to each other like c5 and c6 vettes also contributes. When the exhaust is on the side, or on the sides of the rear it contributes to a more uneven sound depending on where you're standing.

Does that make sense?

In other words, the sound which modern vettes make is due to a very efficient and well designed - like a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and the tone we all love from older muscle cars is mostly due to imperfection and unevenness of their exhaust systems.

 

Yes it does. Half way through that description I said "this guy must be a physicist".....lookd up.....sure enough very well said.

 

Wow! Thanks for the detailed explanations and suggestions. Yes, it does make sense. Technology has come a long way and I appreciate that, but I guess I'm just "old school."
I will try to find a system that best replicates the rumble that I miss.
Any other thoughts please send them along. Your comments are much appreciated.

 

See videos below. If you like the sound, check out my details on my profile. If you have any questions you can pm me. This setup does turn heads at the cruise in's. Good luck in your quest for the right sound.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...xhaustClip.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...17-2011015.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...17-2011016.mp4

 

The best muscle car sound with a LS motor is the Borla Stingers!